Four Studios Cancel Writers’ Contracts

LOS ANGELES, January 15: Four Hollywood studios have
cancelled a host of writers’ contracts, according to the Los Angeles Times, placing the development of new shows for the 2008-09
season in further jeopardy as the Writers Guild of America strike continues.

20th Century Fox Television, CBS Paramount Network
Television, NBC Universal and Warner Bros. Television have all terminated a
range of development and production deals with “force majeure” actions. The Times reports that more than 65 deals have been axed since
the end of last week.

An NBC Universal statement notes: “The duration of the WGA
strike has significantly affected our ongoing business. Regretfully, due to
these changed business circumstances, we’ve had to end some writer/producer
deals.”

—By Mansha Daswani